Sid Road householders, on whose behalf officers carried out four speed checks between July and October last year, said on one occasion nearly half of motorists were caught flouting the 30mph limit. The Herald reported last week how PC Jim Tyrell told town councillors that many drivers who are perceived as going too fast are actually sticking to the limit.

He added there was “no evidence” of excess speed in Sid Road.

But residents, who contrived their own chart based on statistics gathered by officers and sent their observations to the force, disagree.

They say that on July 30 last year, police clocked 26 per cent of 99 vehicles exceeding the 30mph limit – with the top speed being 38mph. On September 27, they noted 46 per cent of 50 drivers performing likewise – with the top speed being 41mph. Nine per cent and 14per cent were spotted speeding on the other two occasions.

“These figures appear to confirm that traffic speeds in Sid Road are not a ‘perceived problem’ as claimed, but are in fact a real problem,” said Michael Rose, the main co-ordinator of the Sid Road and District Neighbourhood Watch. He added that the residents’ report was sent to the police in August last year, and they were promised a response from the community speed watch co-ordinator, but never heard anything back.